Monday, 31 August 2015

Major Kolkata Quiz Revived

Aritra Singha ● Kolkata: Big-time quizzing retuned to Saturday Club yesterday after over a decade and a half, when senior quizmasters Jayashree Mohanka and Dhruv Mookerji, held a general quiz for the knowledge enthusiasts of the city. A total of 54 three-member teams, cutting across schools, colleges, and corporate firms, participated in the event.

Saturday Club was a major quiz venue in the nineties

Saturday Club is one of the oldest and premier clubs of the city, where business and leisure can still mingle under an ambience of old English culture mixed with Indian heritage. The club’s expertise in organising all-round quiz competitions had earned credit. The last quiz of the club was held in 1997.

Library subcommittee member Jagpal Singh, who along with his convenor, Renu Kapoor, revived the quiz, said: “We are completely overwhelmed to see the response we received from all spheres.”

Quiz competitions at Saturday Club used to attract participation from Kolkata and beyond. Nine other premier clubs of the city had participated in quizzes held earlier. Leading quizmasters of the country, including Alban Scolt, Siddhartha Basu, Derek O ’Brien, and others began their career from this club.

Singh said that he would strive hard to organise quizzes every alternate month. Kapoor echoed him and said: “We would make it more audience friendly so that everyone feels more comfortable to participate.”

Dilip Burman, president, told WPC that the callousness of previous conveners of the library subcommittee led the quiz to an unnatural death. Mohanka, on her part, said: “I am extremely elated to see that a quiz competition is again being held here.”

Veteran quizmaster and Saturday Club member, Jayant Kripalani, said: “I am extremely fortunate to see the quizzing crowd back here and would love to be a part of such future events."